Fender Jazz string buzz

beefhat1 · #1 12-15-2006, 05:18 PM

When I play higher notes on the neck on the A string on my MIM Jazz the string buzzes against the frets below the one I'm playing. What can I do to fix this?

pdeon99 · #2 12-16-2006, 08:07 AM

I can think of two reasons:
(1) If it happens on all the higher notes, the A string is too low. Did you try raising the bridge on the A string? Try a half turn of the set screw at a time. (Neck relief affects mostly the lower notes at the tuner end.) or
(2) If it happens only on one particular note, you may have a raised fret. You can find that by holding down the string so your fingers span three frets. When you tap on the string over the middle fret, you should hear a light click. If you don't, it means the string is already touching the fret, and the fret is too high. A *light* hammer tap on the fret at that point (not on the string) might set the fret and solve that problem.

pdeon99 · #3 12-16-2006, 08:17 AM

Let me add hastily - do not go hammering all over your fretboard! This will get you into a lot more trouble than you have now. If you have a raised fret it will likely be only one, so if you think you are finding them all over the place, it's probably not the case. If in doubt, take it to a tech with your suspicions before you touch it with a hammer - that's a lot cheaper than the alternative.

guy n. cognito · #4 12-16-2006, 08:52 AM

Have you performed a proper setup on your bass? Do you know how?

http://www.fender.com/support/setup/basssetup.php

Before taking any extreme steps, follow those instructions and properly setup your bass. If it still buzzes on one single string, I would suggest the following:

Take it to a repair tech and have him evaluate the problem
Simply raise that string slightly until the buzzing stops.

Being a MIM Fender, you might not want to spend alot of money having the frets levels. I would definitely NOT suggest that you take a hammer to the bass.

pkr2 · #5 12-16-2006, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guy n. cognito

Have you performed a proper setup on your bass? Do you know how?

http://www.fender.com/support/setup/basssetup.php

Before taking any extreme steps, follow those instructions and properly setup your bass. If it still buzzes on one single string, I would suggest the following:

Take it to a repair tech and have him evaluate the problem
Simply raise that string slightly until the buzzing stops.

Being a MIM Fender, you might not want to spend alot of money having the frets levels. I would definitely NOT suggest that you take a hammer to the bass.

I agree with you on using the hammer, Guy.

An experienced repair person can certainly reseat a fret with a hammer, but you are on shaky ground if you don't know exactly what you're doing.

First off, the hammer that should be used is a specialized hammer that is of a softer material than the frets are made from. It is often a deadblow hammer that doesnt bounce when used.

If a regular steel faced hammer is used there is a serious threat of either denting or flattening the crown of the fret.

There is also the threat that when the fret reseats at the point thats high, it will raise up on either side of that point.

Bottom line, if you're not experienced with fret work, you're better off to leave that to the pros. It'll be cheaper in the long run.

pdeon99, apologies if it sounds as though I'm shooting your post down. That's not my intent. Your post is technically spot on and well written. With the qualification that the hammer part will require some prior experience or close supervision.

pdeon99 · #6 12-16-2006, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkr2

pdeon99, apologies if it sounds as though I'm shooting your post down. That's not my intent. Your post is technically spot on and well written. With the qualification that the hammer part will require some prior experience or close supervision.

Hey, Guy n, Cognito, thanks for that courtesy. I sometimes assume there is more common sense out there than I should. I certainly don't recommend whacking away with a hammer, either! It is indeed a delicate thing for the reasons you give.

pkr2 · #7 12-16-2006, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beefhat1

When I play higher notes on the neck on the A string on my MIM Jazz the string buzzes against the frets below the one I'm playing. What can I do to fix this?

As Guy suggested, I would try just raising the saddle heigth on the A string. You can always put it back where it was if that doesn't correct the prob.

If you need help adjusting it, just let us know.

Turnaround · #8 12-16-2006, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beefhat1

When I play higher notes on the neck on the A string on my MIM Jazz the string buzzes against the frets below the one I'm playing. What can I do to fix this?

Do you mean that the strings buzz on the nut side of the note you are fretting rather than toward the bridge? Depends what you mean by "below". If the string is rattling on the nut side of the fretted note it may indicate either not enough relief in the neck or a nut that's too low.

beefhat1 · #9 12-17-2006, 07:54 PM

I've tried raising the saddle height, and even when it's substantially higher than the other strings, the fret (15th, by the way) still makes a buzz of doom on the bridge side. It pretty much sounds like I am playing the fret incorrectly, even when my finger is right in the middle. All the other frets sound fine.

beefhat1 · #10 12-17-2006, 07:56 PM

By the way, thanks for all the feedback, everyone. It's nice to know people are around to help me with this problem.

pdeon99 · #11 12-17-2006, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beefhat1

I've tried raising the saddle height, and even when it's substantially higher than the other strings, the fret (15th, by the way) still makes a buzz of doom on the bridge side. It pretty much sounds like I am playing the fret incorrectly, even when my finger is right in the middle. All the other frets sound fine.

Sounds to me like your 16th fret under the A string may be high enough to be touching the string when it vibrates as you play the 15th. Try that little test of spanning three frets with two fingers and tapping with your finger on the string over the middle fret. (In your case, hold down the A string on the 15th and 17th and tap with your free hand over the 16th.) If you can't get a little (and I mean tiny) click out of it, then the 16th fret is high.

beefhat1 · #12 12-17-2006, 09:53 PM

Yeah, I'm not getting any clicks. It must be fret height. What should I do about this?

emils · #13 12-18-2006, 02:01 AM

Try fretting that note as close to the fret as possible, instead of fretting right in between the fourteenth and fifteenth fret and let us know if you still get any buzzing.

guy n. cognito · #14 12-18-2006, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beefhat1

Yeah, I'm not getting any clicks. It must be fret height. What should I do about this?

I would suggest taking it to a qualified tech and have it fixed. This is an easy fix for an experienced person, but could lead to disaster for an amateur.

pdeon99 · #15 12-19-2006, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdeon99

(In your case, hold down the A string on the 15th and 17th and tap with your free hand over the 16th.) If you can't get a little (and I mean tiny) click out of it, then the 16th fret is high.

OOPS! I meant to say hold down the A string on the 15th and 18th frets. You need to span three frets and tap over the middle one. I'm sure you caught my mistake already, but just in case . . .